Infrastructure projects for the Port of Savannah have been ongoing nearly nonstop for years. Between the channel deepening and expansion of terminals, the port has grown immensely to accommodate bigger and more ships. Much of that freight moves by rail away from the port but some also by truck, creating increased traffic. A new grant pushed by Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA 1) from the Department of Transportation will help to ease a bit of this increased traffic.
Funded via the Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program, $1.87 million will help to eliminate eleven crossings on CSX and Norfolk Southern rail lines. The new plans will allow for longer trains and also make access easier for residents of neighborhoods that have been divided by rail lines.
“I am thrilled that the DOT saw the value in improving mobility around the Savannah Port,” said Rep. Carter. “By removing some traffic headaches and improving access to the Port, we will be able to run our lives and businesses more efficiently, helping strengthen important international supply chains and allowing for smart, sustainable growth in Chatham County.”
The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA), CSX and Chatham County are also kicking in funding for the project, with the plans helping both commercial and residential (i.e. voter) interests.
“The grant money secured with the help of Congressman Carter will help ensure this important community improvement project will move forward, benefitting residents and businesses alike within Chatham County,” said Chatham County Commission Chairman Chester A. Ellis. “Eliminating certain railroad crossings in Savannah, Garden City and Port Wentworth will fulfill a need to improve mobility for those living around the Port of Savannah.”
The easing of traffic couldn’t come a moment too soon as the Port of Savannah continues to see explosive growth. At the Georgia Foreign Trade Conference on Tuesday, GPA Executive Director Griff Lynch noted the rapid growth of population in the south and the redounding impact on shipping to the region. In the last three years, the population of the U.S. South has increased by 2.3 million, compared to the western U.S. only growing by 92,000.
“As the nation’s fastest-growing region, the South is seeing increased consumer demand, which translates into higher port volumes,” Lynch said. “The area has also seen strong growth in manufacturing, including the recent announcement of the Hyundai Metaplant. The carmaker is poised to establish a whole new ecosystem of auto manufacturing and ancillary suppliers moving cargo through Georgia’s deepwater ports.”
That manufacturing is resulting in an increased share of the U.S. cargo market shifting to the Savannah and Brunswick, where GPA has its roll-on/roll-off car specialty facility. GPA’s share of the U.S. container market has grown from 7.8 percent in 2014 to 11.4 percent in 2023 – roughly a change from handling one in 12 containers to now nearly one in eight.
“At the Georgia Ports Authority, it’s important to be a good neighbor, as well as a powerful economic engine for our local communities and the state of Georgia,” said Lynch. “Reducing the impact of freight rail on residents and commuters, while increasing our cargo handling capability is a win-win for Chatham County.”
